Episode 65

Brown.

It manifests when a foreign substance in the body causes a severe illness.

While it can be a cancerous lump or tumor, most of the time, if it’s in the lower abdomen, it’s feces.

In other words, constipation.

Because in the case of something like cancer, it appears in an incurable blue or a difficult-to-treat orange.

And, surprisingly, in my past life, the director actually died from constipation.

“Wh-what… what are you saying?!”

The director’s face turned beet red as her secret was exposed.

But I didn’t care and yelled like a brat who wouldn’t listen.

“Con-sti-pa-tion!”

“You, you…!”

“Drink lots and lots of yogurt, Director! Or else it’s going to be a big problem!”

“Hehe, did you hear that? Constipation.”

I heard a small giggle from somewhere.

“N-no!”

The director yelled at the source of the laughter.

But the snickering only increased.

Of course, the children wouldn’t miss such an amusing incident.

From now on, the director would undoubtedly be called ‘poopy.’

It was a nickname I had given her in my previous life, too.

‘So why did she have to grab me and create a problem when all I wanted was to find out my booth assignment?’

I looked coldly at the director, who was now trembling, her face turning not just red but outright blue.

“You little… Belzeeeeek—!”

“…”

“You damn girl…!”

Whish!

Just as the woman, now a laughingstock, couldn’t hold back and reached out her hand towards me.

“Belze!”

Someone called me from the entrance.

Turning that way, I saw an old man with patches of gray hair sweating profusely as he walked towards me.

“Grandpa!”

I left the director and the priests behind and ran over to him.

My collaborator and today’s helper.

Grandpa Gordon set down the large wooden box he was carrying with a thud, gasping for breath.

“Huff, huff! You little rascal! How can you make an old man carry all this stuff?”

“I’m sorry. But Belze is just a baby, so I couldn’t help it…!”

“You rascal! Only a baby at times like this! Ah, it’s frustrating!”

Grandpa Gordon clicked his tongue, shaking his clothes.

Despite all his complaints, I was quite surprised.

‘He made such a fuss about not being able to help yesterday, so I thought he’d be late…’

I was grateful he showed up on time despite his grumbling.

‘I was going to give him 1% of the profits, but I’ll raise it to 2%.’

As I was making up my mind.

“Who are you?”

Someone approached and asked sharply.

It was the poopy director.

She scrutinized me and Grandpa Gordon with suspicious eyes.

Most of the orphans at such events sought help from the priests.

Children sponsored by noble families usually brought a maid from that family.

So the director seemed unable to associate Grandpa Gordon with being a helper.

“He’s here to help with this child’s work today.”

Grandpa Gordon responded indifferently.

But the director, seething with anger at me, didn’t let it go easily and pressed him sharply.

“Outsiders can’t enter freely today. Did you follow the proper procedures? I don’t know what your relationship with this child is, but today’s event involves very important people…”

“Oh, come on!”

Grandpa Gordon, annoyed, pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and shoved it at the director.

It was the temple entry pass issued the day before.

He also handed over a small piece of paper from his pocket that I didn’t know he had.

His business card.

“Gordon Pelliach, personal physician of the Kallios Duke’s household.”

“The personal physician of the Duke’s household… Gasp! Th-the famous genius of the medical world…!”

“Hmph.”

The director’s eyes widened in recognition as Grandpa Gordon gave a satisfied smile.

“I-I was very rude. I’m so sorry….”

After staring at the business card for a long while, the director returned the pass with a sheepish look.

“And Belze, your booth is in the same place as last year, right in the center….”

With her business concluded, she retreated, looking completely deflated.

“Did you hear? He’s the personal physician of the Kallios Duke’s household.”

“What’s a physician doing here…?”

“Maybe Belze is sick or something…?”

The atmosphere had completely changed from when I first arrived. Listening to the whispers of the children and priests, I smiled inwardly.

Unintentionally, Grandpa Gordon’s arrival created the impression that I was being well-treated at the Duke’s estate.

Glancing around, I noticed the priests who had gossiped about me flinch and avoid my gaze.

Their pale, nervous faces were quite satisfying to see.

Feeling good, I decided to praise Grandpa Gordon.

“Wow! Grandpa, you looked like an important person just now!”

“You little rascal! Haven’t I explained countless times how great and impressive I am…?”

“Don’t waste your saliva, save it for our customers.”

Bickering, we moved towards the booth the director had mentioned.

The booth was easy to find, located right in the center where it was visible from anywhere in the clearing.

Thud!

“Oh, I’m dying!”

Grandpa Gordon groaned dramatically as he set down the boxes again.

Honestly, he wasn’t that old, but he was quite the over-actor.

‘If he starts complaining about muscle pain, I guess I’ll have to heal him.’

As he caught his breath, he looked around with a sly smile.

“But this is a prime spot, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“They gave you such a good spot… you must have been quite well-behaved at the orphanage?”

“Hehe, of course!”

“You little rascal! Treat me like that too, instead of always thinking about using me for free!”

Despite his grumbling, he seemed quite pleased with the spot, laughing heartily.

I didn’t deny his misunderstanding and just smiled silently along.

In truth, I had already expected the booth assignment to be the same as last year.

It wasn’t just because I had experienced a previous life and come back.

I felt a bit sorry for Grandpa, who thought I was well-treated at the orphanage.

The reason the director assigned me to such a good spot was…

“Belze!”

Just then, a clear voice called out to me.

‘Speak of the devil.’

I glanced back.

The person responsible for my booth assignment.

The director had placed me in this spot to make today’s MVP, the heroine, shine the brightest, was approaching.

“…Diana.”

Seeing her appearance, my eyes widened.

“You’re already here, Belze! I’m a bit late.”

Diana greeted me energetically, as if she had completely forgotten the incident with the pecan pie.

In the meantime, the maid who had accompanied her last time seemed to have been replaced.

The new maid looked me up and down and nodded slightly.

However, what surprised me wasn’t just the new face.

“Are you going to a ball or something?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Diana’s eyes widened, not understanding my words.

Indeed.

Unlike me, who had dressed as simply as possible to blend in with the orphanage children, Diana was dressed as if she were ready to attend a ball.

She stood out even from a distance.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

‘That dress….’

The green bell-line dress was almost identical to the one I wore the day she came to the Duke’s estate.

‘The vine-shaped hairpin, the pearl necklace, the silver bracelet….’

I looked her up and down, comparing her accessories with what I had worn that day.

She had copied everything.

It was as if she was determined to pay back for the humiliation she received that day.

I was utterly confused by her appearance.

‘Why did it turn out this way?’

The situation had completely reversed from my previous life.

In my past life, I was the one who copied Diana’s outfits.

Now, Diana was wearing an outfit similar to mine.

A storm of confusion swirled in my mind.

“…Belze, what are you talking about?”

Diana called out to me, puzzled by my silence.

“Ah.”

I snapped back to reality and met her gaze.

The moment I met her dreamy, violet eyes, I felt an inexplicable chill run down my spine.

‘…She’s just a 5-year-old.’

I clenched my teeth, suppressing the rising sense of discomfort.

‘It’s natural for children to imitate.’

Otherwise, there was no explaining Diana’s bizarre behavior.

Forcing myself to ignore my pounding heart, I smiled brightly.

“…Ah, no! Your dress is really pretty today, Diana!”

“Isn’t it?”

She beamed at my words.

“Want to see?”

She spun around proudly, making the expensive fabric of her dress flare out like a blooming flower before settling gracefully.

“Wow… so pretty…”

“Diana, you look like a princess…”

“I’m jealous.”

I could hear the nearby girls murmuring.

Diana boasted in an elated voice.

“What do you think? The Marquis bought it for me! He said it’s an important day, so I should look my best!”

“Yeah, I see.”

“Belze, did the Duke not buy you anything?”

“Yeah.”

Despite the subtle insult in her words, I responded nonchalantly.

Maybe I had lost the will to respond after seeing her mimic my style so closely.

“What’s that?”

Then, as she scrutinized me, her eyes suddenly sparkled with interest.

Her gaze landed on my wrist, where the safety bracelet gleamed.

Instinctively, I hid my hand behind my back.

“It’s nothing!”

“…Really?”

She trailed off meaningfully, then suddenly greeted someone behind me.

“Oh? Hello, sir!”

“Hm.”

Grandpa Gordon, who had been watching our conversation with great interest, nodded curtly.

It was just like him, not to be overly friendly with Diana.

But Diana, undeterred, asked cheerfully,

“What brings you here?”

“Well. I’m here as a helper or whatever it’s called, what else would I be here for?”

“You’re helping Belze? Wow…”

She sighed as she glanced between Grandpa and me.

“You must be very close with Belze.”

“Come on, how could someone my age be close to a little brat like this? She begged and begged, so I decided to help her out.”

“Hehe, is that so?”

Diana laughed sweetly and pointed to the booth right next to mine.

“My spot is here! Looks like we’ll be together all day!”

“Is that so.”

Grandpa responded indifferently.

I thought that was the end of our conversation.

“But, Belze.”

But the heroine, with her ever-benevolent face, caught my attention again.

“Yes?”

“Even if he’s helping you… he can’t heal for you!”

“…”

“That would be against the rules! Right, Sister Sara?”

I glanced at Sara, the new maid, who nodded in agreement.